Our Hope in Heaven

-


Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (ESV)

16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Devotion:

            The older I get the sicker I become. This is true of my friends as well. Time is not kind to our bodies. No matter how well we take care of them they just seem to wear out. We waste away as Paul puts it in the scripture above. I hope that I am not sounding overly pessimistic here. However, it is a simple fact of biology that no one lives forever. Even my 102-year-old aunt who it seemed might live forever. Is at last succumbing to the deterioration of her body.

            But Paul points out in this passage that our inward being is being renewed day by day. We have a treasure unfading in heaven where time cannot diminish or tarnish it. No matter what aches and pains we may suffer in this world in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection we will be brought to eternal life with him in heaven. We are, according to Paul, to consider what we suffer in this life as “a light momentary affliction.” Our bodies may wear out, but our souls are being prepared for eternity in heaven with Jesus.

            We were originally made to live and flourish in this world. Our bodies were not meant to decay or die. God gave us just one rule in the garden of Eden and we (under the influence of Satan) broke it. Thus, we were cast out of paradise and became the mere mortals we are today. But that is not the end of the story. In another garden many millennia later a solitary figure knelt and prayed on behalf of the whole human race. He prayed that not his will, but God’s be done. He knew the anguish he would suffer, but he did it anyway. So, he was executed, but God raised him up after three days to eternal glory. One day those who trust in him will see him alive in paradise.

            Scriptures tell us that we cannot conceive of what God has prepared for us in heaven. We are told that we will never die again. Every tear will be wiped away and we will worship the one who has accomplished this great salvation for us. Let us begin our praise right now:

Prayer:

            Lord, our bodies distress us more and more each day. Yet we cling to the promise of a new resurrected body that cannot diminish with time. Thank you for sending your son Jesus to bear our sins on the cross. We know that he suffered greatly because we have sinned greatly. Help our voices to be strong and loud declaring our praises for Jesus the one who rescued us. We bless your holy name as we make our way as poor pilgrims to the celestial city where we will enjoy eternity in Your presence. Amen.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Welcoming the Unwelcome

-
  Scripture: Luke 7:36-38 (NIV) 36  When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37  A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38  As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and poured perfume on them. Devotion:             First of all, some warnings to my readers. This post will exceed the 500 words I try to limit my posts. Second, this post will contain content people may find offensive or otherwise unfit for print. Please understand that my purpose is neither to offend nor upset but to provoke thought and, hopefully, respectful dialog.             We will use Luke chapter seven as an aid to interpreting the events that occurred last Thursday at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. On that da
Read more

Father Forgive Them

-
  Scripture: Luke 23:33-34 (ESV) 33  And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34  And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Devotion:             The situation Jesus finds himself in here in today’s scripture is difficult for us to even imagine. A sham trial, no credible accusations of any kind, let alone any deserving of death, and yet here he is. A brilliant Rabbi, a teacher of the people who never led even one person astray from God’s will. This Holy One of God soon to be food for vultures.             This man who had done nothing wrong had no one in all the crowds who would speak up in his defense lest they be next to face the cross. An innocent man hung between two scoundrels. No voice from heaven declaring that this was the man that they were killing was actually the true Son of God. (See Matthew 3:17, Matthew 17:5, John 12:28) No the heaven
Read more

Transgenderism letter

-
  This is a copy of my letter to my senators, representative, and President Biden. January 15, 2024 Dear President Biden, Senators T. Duckworth, R. Durbin, and Representative D. LaHood             I am writing to you because I am concerned about the situation affecting our children and grandchildren, namely transitioning them from one gender to another. This nation must adjust course concerning these “interventions” because they are dangerous, irreversible, and life-changing. Our country should not be permitting these procedures on minor children under any circumstances. We must also make sure that adults who seek this care are given informed consent as to the risks versus benefits of sex reassignment treatments.             There are many drawbacks to gender-affirming care for minors. Besides the loss of any ability to give or receive sexual pleasure and sterility these treatments cause, there are social and psychological effects that we have no way of identifying because these
Read more